As countries in Europe and beyond have faced a large influx of refugees and other migrants, the emergency response took immediate precedence over social and integration services. Yet without sufficient support and commitment to integrate newcomers into the host society and get them on a path to economic self-sufficiency, the ramifications of the crisis could persist for decades.

Helping new arrivals find jobs commensurate with their skills and experience—and with the potential for upward progression—can have positive effects on other indicators of integration, such as personal well-being and social cohesion. The case for up-front investments in labor market integration policies is especially compelling in countries facing demographic decline and skills shortages.

This report provides an overview of the barriers to the successful labor market integration of refugees and asylum seekers across all skills levels, and analyzes the targeted support initiatives and structural policy levers available to overcome them. Among the policies that can support such integration: early skills assessment and training, recognition of foreign academic and professional credentials, and employer engagement.

In the Spotlight

This research project on the labor market integration of new immigrants evaluates the ease with which foreign-born workers within the European Union are able to establish themselves in destination-country labor markets during the first decade after arrival.

These interactive maps on MPI’s Data Hub display populations of refugees and asylum seekers by origin and country of residence. Learn which countries lead in refugee resettlement, where particular refugee populations have dispersed around the world, and more.

International Program

Transatlantic Council on Migration

MPI's Transatlantic Council on Migration is a unique deliberative body that examines vital policy issues and informs migration policymaking processes across the Atlantic community. The Council’s work is at the cutting edge of policy analysis and evaluation and is thus an essential tool of policymaking.